WELLESLEY — Defense may not have won the Wellesley football team a championship this season, but it gave the Raiders a huge boost on Thanksgiving.

The Raiders forced five turnovers, picking off four passes to pave the way to a 23-20 victory over Needham at Wellesley High on Thursday morning. The Raiders (6-5) extended their slim lead in the series to 62-59-9 in the 130th edition of the nation’s oldest high school football rivalry.

“Defense won us the football game, and turnovers,” said Wellesley coach Jesse Davis. “[We] had good command of the offense, and our defense made plays when they needed to.”

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The Rockets (6-5) marched down the field in a nine-play opening drive, capped off with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Ogletree to John Andre. The extra-point attempt was blocked, and senior captain Josh Cohen scooped it up and rumbled 94 yards for the 2-point score to make it 6-2.

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Another interception led to a short field for the Raiders, which Shiloh White turned into a 5-yard touchdown run.

After forcing a three-and-out, Wellesley was intercepted, and Ogletree made them pay by hitting Andre in stride for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the half to make it 15-13 at the break.

The Rockets took a 20-15 lead in their opening drive of the third quarter, Ogletree finding Matt Smith for 57 yards.

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But the defense set up Wellesley once again, as Moore picked off his second pass of the day and was rewarded with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt Maiona. Maiona added the 2-point run to make it 23-20, and sealed the win with an interception.